“I love the mountains, but in the moment of exertion, I’m filled with deep hatred. So I try to shorten the suffering.” – Marco Pantani
THN have received the news that Soda Pictures have acquired UK theatrical distribution rights for PANTANI: THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A CYCLIST. The documentary is described as an ‘exhilarating and engaging‘ documentary that tells the tragic story of Marco Pantani, Italy’s most infamous athlete and a hero amongst the world’s cycling community.
Written and directed by James Erskine, PANTANI: THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A CYCLIST is a New Black Films and Media Squared Films production, presented in association with 4Rights. Soda Pictures will release in the UK and Ireland on 16th May and 4DVD will follow with the Home Entertainment release. Check out the official synopsis:
PANTANI: THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A CYCLIST is a unique and compelling story of one man taking on the mountains, an athlete’s battle against addiction, set against the dramatic background of the Alps during the Tour de France.
In 1998 Marco Pantani, the most flamboyant and popular cyclist of his era, won both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. This titanic feat of physical and mental endurance has never since been matched. Pantani was a hero to millions and was seen as the saviour of cycling during a time when doping scandals threatened to destroy the sport. But six years after this extraordinary feat and aged only 34, tragically, Pantani was dead. Discovered in a cheap Italian hotel, he died alone apparently from acute cocaine poisoning. The Accidental Death of a Cyclist explores the true story behind this remarkable man’s achievements and his tragic fall.
Shot over two years in the French Alps, Italian Alps and Dolomites, in Cesenatico, Majorca, London, Sheffield and Rome, and the places of Pantani’s greatest victories, the film carefully pieces together Pantani’s history with interviews and archive footage. Contributors include Sir Bradley Wiggins (UK), Evgeni Berzin (Russia), Greg LeMond (USA) and Piotr Ugrumov (Latvia) as well as those closest to the man himself. The film is inspired by the book by Matt Rendell, ‘The Death of Marco Pantani: A Biography’ and was constructed with two years of additional research working with many who knew Pantani best, including his family.
Check out the trailer:
James Erskine is an Emmy-nominated film-maker whose work as a writer, director and producer includes From The Ashes, One Night In Turin, Vanishing of the Bees, Oil Storm, an award–winning TV movie for FX; and the forthcoming SHOOTING FOR SOCRATES starring John Hannah and Conleth Hill.
Head to their official site: www.pantanifilm.com
Twitter: @pantanifilm
Facebook: Pantanifilm
